Dr M: Let's gasak more ... !

Dr M says more money will end race problems

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has told the government to ensure growth and wealth as a means to keep race relations problems at bay, returning to the formula he had used during his administration. Malaysia is facing uncertain economic prospects with average GDP growth in the next five years projected to be just shy of the six per cent target Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had set. “If we have a prosperous country, the stress on race will be less,” said Dr Mahathir (picture) in his closing speech at the CEO Forum organised by the Perdana Leadership Foundation today. “When we thought of it (Bangsa Malaysia)... we thought when there’s prosperity, people would forget their racial origins,” he added. Bangsa Malaysia was formulated by then-prime minister Dr Mahathir to achieve national unity under Vision 2020 which he unveiled in 1991. Dr Mahathir, however, said today that his brainchild was likely to fail if the government continues to rely on foreign direct investment (FDI) to drive economic growth.

The former premier noted that the Barisan Nasional (BN) managed to secure a two-thirds majority in the 1999 general election - despite his misgivings - due to support from the business community who had enjoyed healthy finances at that time. “In 1999, when BN went to the polls, we thought that we would not do so well. In 1999, somebody's black eye became a tremendous issue,” said Dr Mahathir in a thinly-veiled reference to his former deputy, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. At the height of the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis, and after falling out with Dr Mahathir, Anwar was arrested and severely beaten by then Inspector General of Police Rahim Noor who gave him a black eye.

“We still got a two-thirds majority in 1999 because the business community was having a good time,” said Dr Mahathir. The country’s fourth prime minister stressed that greater wealth would enhance the country’s stability and ease growth efforts. “If you are able to prosper the country, the country will be much more stable. Growth will be much easier,” he said. There has been a sharp increase in racially-tinged incidents over the past few months, such as the incident of two school principals accused of uttering racial slurs, the furore surrounding a Chinese MP's visit to a surau, and a National Civics Bureau (BTN) senior official who allegedly referred to the Chinese and Indian communities as “si mata sepet” and “si botol” at a closed-door Puteri Umno function on Monday.

The Cabinet ordered Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Sidek Hassan today to probe Federal Territory BTN Deputy Director Hamim Husin's remarks following an uproar across parties on both sides of the political divide. Dr Mahathir also pointed out today that perceptions of the current government as being weak would affect the nation's stability, contrasting it to his administration when BN used to stride to elections with confidence. “The strength of the government is not like before. When we went to the polls, we asked for two-thirds majority. We looked very strong,” said Dr Mahathir. “Now, they perceive the government to be weak. When you are weak, people will take advantage of you. The country will be slightly unstable,” he added.

The BN lost their customary two-thirds majority Election 2008, which saw the loose opposition pact of DAP, PAS and PKR – now known as Pakatan Rakyat – capture five out of 13 states. The elder statesman also noted that although the country's growth figures appeared to be healthy, businessmen had told him that they did not experience the effects of an expanding economy. “The figures are good, but they don’t feel it,” said Dr Mahathir. The country’s economy grew 9.5 per cent in the first half of the year and the Najib administration believe that Malaysia can exceed its 6 per cent growth target for 2010.